K. Asif’s son celebrates Husain’s birthday in London

Mumbai, Nov 8 (IANS) Akbar Asif, son of the late Bollywood filmmaker, K. Asif, who is better remembered today as the maker of India’s first historical blockbuster, “Mughal-e-Azam,” celebrated the 93rd birthday of legendary Indian artist, M.F. Husain, in London.The much-celebrated Indian artist is in forced exile since the last two years, shuttling between Dubai and London.

Asif and his wife Kavita and daughter Haya hosted a party in the Buddha Hall in London in Husain’s honour Friday night. The guests, comprising the Indian expatriates, teasingly conferred on Husain the title “Rangeela Joker” on the occasion.

“Husain Saab was extremely thrilled with the new title coined by me. He has an amazing sense of humour over and above his immense creative strengths. He has completed 51 paintings while in exile since the last about two years,” Akbar Asif, who now runs a business in London, said in a statement.

Asif informed that these 51 paintings also include a series on the Mughal era, which the barefoot painter has dedicated to K. Asif, whom he referred to as “a great artist who created art on celluloid”.

According to Asif, Husain would unveil the series early next year, hopefully in India.

A birthday cake was specially made with a replica of Husain holding a paint-brush and the artist cut it at the stroke of midnight.

Though his birthday falls in the month of September, there were no celebrations as this year it coincided with the Ramadan.

“I thought of celebrating it belatedly, especially to mark the completion of his Mughal era paintings, which he has so kindly dedicated to the memory of my father,” Asif said.